Arlington St. bridge has locals gathered around it – gazing at the roaring Truckee River charging downstream. The record-breaking rain causing massive run-off from mountain snow has caused the river to rage, and is inching to flood stage. From my office window I can see the force of nature tearing up everything in it’s path, but something else is almost as fascinating.
To my amazement I am seeing the (long) arm of a backhoe hanging over the bridge – it’s bucket almost touching the water. What is that about? I wait. Within moments, all eyes revert to this gigantic log charging downstream – aiming for the bridge – as it bounces in the turbulent water. Then…at just the right moment – zap! The bucket of the backhoe opens its wide mouth, grabs hold of the threat, and stops it in its tracks! Turning on its axis, the tractor dumps the wayward log in to the waiting truck.
Great entertainment! I am imaging this operator sitting in his enclosed cab; hands locked on the instruments, adrenaline flowing with the anticipation that he has to be quick-on-the draw. It’s like the bucket, and it’s master, are daring those logs to try to get past it….as the people watch in awe. “ He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. Everyone stops working at such a time so they can recognize his power ” (Ecc.37:6 LRB)
Another God-ordained day offering opportunities to watch the sights God puts before me so that I can store them in my hard drive. And He didn’t let me down! He knew I would look out my office window just in time to see the action below, and that I would be intrigued by the long arm and the bucket. He also knew that it would be a perfect visual for an up-coming client. The very next day I found myself downloading the illustration – as Holy Spirit put it in to words. How I love to tell his stories!
My client, deep in grief over a failing relationship, became the object of this illustration. I knew I was to have him look for parallels between this scene and his relationship(s). Could he be the backhoe operator? The bucket? The raging water? Or how about the crazed log that has one goal: to create a log jam that prevents easy resolution. So many variables, and as I prayed I asked Holy Spirit to direct his thoughts.
With this deeply hurting person there is definitely the threat of a log-jam, and and the ultimate threat of flooding that could cause serious damage requiring major repair – if repairable at all. The reason for the raging water is just a natural series of events that happen in nature. Our surrounding mountains have accumulated 54 feet of snow, and with heavy rains it is natural for possible flooding.
In our everyday lives it is quite natural sometimes for the rains to come against that accumulation of “stuff” upstream, and force things to come down that we were not ready to “come down” – putting us the the test. But…what do we do when it turns in to rage? God provides resources; he provides answers. Will we take advantage of the tools that have been provided by him to clear the way; to get the debris out of the way?
Rain is good thing – especially when there are drought conditions. But when it comes in torrents and brings logs that threaten flooding that is frightening. The same with relationships that have major accumulations of problems. When this happens God sometimes dismantles things and sends it downstream – creating either a pile-up, or an opportunity to practice removal before something worse happens.
The Old Testament often speaks of God’s mighty hand and an outstretched arm. In most of the instances he is speaking of blessing, and deliverance from what could become destructive. But he also gives us a free will to see what choices we make. If we chose to be the operator we need to be sensitive to how things work, be alert and know how to operate in extreme situations. If we do we can experience the adrenaline that comes with stopping things in their tracks, and taking it to the dump!
The “long arm” of the Lord waits with great anticipation to teach us to be quick-on-the-draw, and recognize his power!